The Most Creative and Common Phone Scams

If you have a phone number then you’ve definitely probably been targeted by a phone scammer. These annoying and potentially dangerous callers seek to steal your information and money. We’ll go over the most common and creative phone scams in the U.S. and how you can stop them. We’ll discuss the Do Not Call Registry and how reverse phone lookup apps can put a stop to these criminals.

IRS Phone Scam

The most common phone scam in the United States is the IRS scam. This scam targets all Americans and in it a caller claims to be an IRS agent and accuses their victim of owing taxes. The scammer will say that if the victim doesn’t pay, they’ll send police to arrest them.

This is a total scam, but it has a lot of success because many Americans are actually late in paying their taxes each year or may believe that they owe money. What’s important to remember is that you will always receive a registered letter from the IRS telling you that you owe money and you always have the right to dispute it.

Charity Phone Scam

Charity phone scams are annoying in that it’s difficult to tell whether or not the call is actually a scam. What is true though is that the telemarketing companies that charities use to fundraise will often take a cut of the donation as part of their fee. For this reason, it’s always best to donate directly to the charity of your choosing and check it first to make sure it’s reputable.

Free Giveaway Phone Scam

A lot of times these types of scams target the elderly, but they can really target anyone. Calls will promise anything from free Caribbean cruises to gift cards at major retailers. They can also offer free medical alert systems, cars, and even money. The one thing that all of these calls have in common is that they are a scam and want to get your information. It’s best to just ignore calls like these.

Ways To Avoid These Scams

The first thing you should do is make sure that your phone number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. After you’ve done this, make sure you report any unwanted and suspicious calls to the proper authorities. The majority of phone scams can be reported to the FTC. IRS calls should be reported to TIGTA.

Download A Reverse Phone Lookup App

Another way to start avoiding calls like this is to download a iPhone caller ID app. Apps like this will help you decide what calls are worth picking up. The less you answer scammer phone calls and interact with them, the less they will target you.